Improvement in preparing barrels to contain petroleum, coal-oil



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS S. ROBBINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREPARING BARRELS T0 CONTAIN PETROLEUM, COAL-OIL, &c.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS S. RoBBrNs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in preparing casks to contain the crude or refined petroleum or coal oils; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description thereof.

My invention and improvement consist in preparing the outside surface of barrels or casks by saturating them with hot oil, and then treating the inside with a strong alkali or hot soap-suds in the manner to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others not skllled to practice my invention, I will proceed to state that I employ linseed or any other of the fixed oils for the treatment of the outside of the casks. The oil is placed in an ordinary iron kettle sufliciently large to admit one or more of the barrels or casks that are to be operated upon. A fire or other means of heating is then employed to raise the temperature ot the oil to 150 or 200 Fahrenheit. For old and dry barrels or casks I usethe oil at a temperature of 150; but for new barrels or casks I-raise the temperature to 200. An ordinary thermometer being placed in the oil and indicating the degrees of heat required, I proceed to introduce the barrels or casks, first closing the buugs, that the oil may only be applied to the outer surface. The barrels or casks are turned over,

so that every portion comes in contact with the hot oil. Then they are taken out and others introduced for the same operation, and so on. The barrels or casks are then ready for the treatment inside, and for this purpose I prepare a strong alkali or hot soap-suds (the latter I prefer) in a tub or kettle so arranged with a faucet that the barrels or casks may be readily filled with the desired quantity. If filled full, they may be left at rest. If but partially filled, they will have to be turned over occasional] y until the casks or barrels are sufficiently saturated,when their contents can be emptied back into the tub or kettle to be reemployed in the treatment or preparation of other barrels or casks. 1

The advantages of my invention and improvement are, first, the hot oil applied to the outer surface of the cask penetrates every portion of it and renders it impervious to moistum and the influences of the atmosphere,which otherwise cause the wood of thecask to shrink and undergo a constant change detrimental to the cask for holding the oil or for durability; secondly, it prevents the water of the alkaline solution from passing out through the pores of the wood composing the staves and heads the cask. The effect of the alkaline solution is to swell or distend the cask,whlch it doesin' a remarkable degree by entering into combination with the wood, where it remains, being kept from passing outward by the coating of oil applied to the surface and from passing inward by the oil put in the cask or barrel for transportation. The barrel or cask is thus kept tight as long as the oil remains in it.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' The combination formed by saturating the outer surface of the cask with heated oil and the body of the staves and heads with soapsuds or an alkaline solution, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS S. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

L. A. ROBERTS, JAMES T. GRAHAM. 

